Rapid City, South Dakota Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Rapid City, South Dakota shows: median public in-state tuition $10,500 (+90.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $54,791 (+0.9% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 87.8% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $15,000 (+11.7% vs U.S.) 3,734 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 5 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 3,734 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $10,500 (+90.5% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $54,791 (+0.9% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 87.8% (-0.1 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $19,694 (+97.6% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $15,000 (+11.7% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $17,500
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 26.5%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 58.7%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Rapid City, South Dakota—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against South Dakota and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Rapid City vs South Dakota & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, South Dakota | $10,500 | $19,694 | $15,000 | 26.5% | 3,734 |
| South Dakota (state median) | $8,294 | $15,911 | $23,250 | 42.8% | 35,477 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Rapid City, South Dakota vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, South Dakota | $54,791 | 87.8% | 58.7% | 9.3% | — | 72.3% | 0.58 |
| South Dakota (state median) | $51,926 | 94.5% | 75.5% | 5.2% | — | 82.8% | 0.46 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in South Dakota (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, South Dakota | $10,500 | $19,694 | $15,000 | 26.5% | 3,734 | $54,791 | 87.8% |
| Sioux Falls | $14,700 | $19,392 | $17,624 | 67.9% | 5,887 | $56,869 | 94.9% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Rapid City, South Dakota by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 52.9%, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 0.0%, National American University-Rapid City
National American University-Rapid City
Top 10 colleges in Rapid City, South Dakota by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 95.6%, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 80.1%, National American University-Rapid City
National American University-Rapid City
Top 10 most selective colleges in Rapid City, South Dakota (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 79.9%, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Top 10 colleges in Rapid City, South Dakota by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $90,514, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $69,890, National American University-Rapid City
National American University-Rapid City
Top 10 colleges in Rapid City, South Dakota by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $95,639, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $83,078, National American University-Rapid City
National American University-Rapid City
Top 10 colleges in Rapid City, South Dakota by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $62,863, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $29,641, National American University-Rapid City
National American University-Rapid City
Top 10 colleges in Rapid City, South Dakota by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $66,297, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $31,950, National American University-Rapid City
National American University-Rapid City
Top 10 colleges in Rapid City, South Dakota by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $72,257, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $37,325, National American University-Rapid City
National American University-Rapid City
Top 10 colleges in Rapid City, South Dakota by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $233,374, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $53,919, National American University-Rapid City
National American University-Rapid City
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Rapid City, South Dakota (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $20,183, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Rank 2, Net Price, $31,062, National American University-Rapid City
National American University-Rapid City
Top 10 colleges in Rapid City, South Dakota by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 84.1%, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 33.3%, National American University-Rapid City
National American University-Rapid City
In-state tuition: Rapid City, South Dakota vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Rapid City, South Dakota median in-state tuition is $10,500, +90.5% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Rapid City, South Dakota vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Rapid City, South Dakota is $15,000 (+11.7% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $17,500.
Median earnings (10 years out): Rapid City, South Dakota vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Rapid City, South Dakota center around $54,791 (+0.9% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Rapid City, South Dakota vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 87.8% at the median Rapid City, South Dakota campus (-0.1 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Rapid City, South Dakota median public in-state tuition is $10,500, about +90.5% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +68.7%.
Median graduate debt is $15,000 (+11.7% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Rapid City, South Dakota are $54,791, about +0.9% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 87.8% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-0.1 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 58.7% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 9.3% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 72.3% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (95.6%), National American University-Rapid City (80.1%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Rapid City, South Dakota is 26.5% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Rapid City?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 5 campuses in Rapid City, South Dakota with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Rapid City?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Rapid City is $10,500 and median net price is $19,694. For South Dakota overall, medians are $8,294 and $15,911; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Rapid City?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Rapid City is $54,791 vs $51,926 for South Dakota and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Rapid City colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Rapid City is $15,000 vs $23,250 for South Dakota and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Rapid City?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (graduation) and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Rapid City?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 5 College Scorecard campuses in Rapid City, South Dakota, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- South Dakota college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON